Corn-cutter



(No Model.)

T. O..WILLIAMS. CORN CUTTER.

Patented Sept. 18 -L I 1 0: 1:- {III WITNESSES IJV' VEW TOR .dttorney ment in that class ofdevices known as cornfalling and standing stalks.

' THOMAS o. WILLIAMS,

CORN-C PATENT OFFICE.

or BELOIT, KANSAS.

UTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 389,783, dated September 18, 1858.

Application filed February 6, 1888. Serial No. 263,121. (No model) To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, TEOMAS C.WILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Beloit, in the county of Mitchell and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improve-- ments in Corn-Gutters; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention is designed as an improvecutters, and it has for its object to provide a device which may out two rows of stalks at one operation.

The invention will be fully understood from the following description, when taken in connection with the annexed drawings, in which- Figure lis a plan view showing the parts in an operative position. Fig. 2 is a side elevation with the wings folded, the stakes K having been removed; and Fig. 3 is a view of one of the wings removed with the cutter and protecting-plate attached. Fig. 4 is a detail view, partly in section. and partly in elevation, showing the connection of the stakes K with the wings E.

Referring by letter to the said drawings, A indicates the main frame, which is composed of a center piece of board or other suitable material. This center piece is of any desired length and is of a width to permit it to pass between two parallel rows of stalks. This frame is shown as mounted onlow runners, although wheels or other means of support may be employed without departing from the spirit of my invention. To the forward end of this frame is attached aplatform, B, which, in addition to receiving the draft, furnishes a convenient means of support for the driver. This platform is provided with a transverse guard, O, which serves to shield the driver from the This shield also serves as a convenient means for resting the lines of the animal. The runners are connected by a suitable number of cross-bars, D, which may be slightly extended beyond the edges of the frame A, so as to rest the wings (which will be presently described) and also relieve the hinges from undue strain.

E E indicate hinged wings, which are of a width equal to about one-half the width of the frame A, so that they may fold compactly thereon. These wings are respectively hinged to the longitudinal edges of the frame A by strap-hinges composed of the straps E and E and thestraps arelong enough to extend across the same, so as to impart stability thereto.

The forward ends of these wings are cut obliquely, the angle being from without inwardly, as indicated at a, and to these oblique edges are secured cutters F F.

To the forward longitudinal edges of the main frame, and at the base of the cutters F F, are secured metallic protectingplates G G, which also serve as cutters. It will be observed that these protecting-plates G, which also serve as cutters, have an offset, a, (better shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings) and which snugly engage the rear and outer end of the platform at its connection with the main frame, 7

thereby extending the cuttingedge forwardly, as shown. These protecting-plates are about midway the length and in the center of the main frame, as shown, and the upper sides of the wings are provided with keepers I to receive the opposite ends of the lock-bar when the said wings are extended in an operative position.

Z indicates the lock-bar, which is pivoted about midway of its length in the center of the main frame, and has for its object to enter the keepers of the hinged wings and hold the same in a horizontally-extended position during operation. \Vhen it is desirable to fold the hinged wings upon the main frame after use, the lock-bar should be first turned on its pivot, so as to be brought longitudinally with the said main frame, thereby allowing the wings to be turned in. The wings are also provided at their forward and rear ends, near their outer edges, with stakesK K,which will prevent the stalks after they are cut and de posited upon the frame from falling off the sides to the ground. 'These stakes may be removed and taken up when itis desirable to fold the wings.

In operation it will be seen that, as the angle of inclination of the knives is inward as the machine is drawn along between two rows of corn and the wings are extended, the knives will have a draw out on the stalks, and asthe IOO edge thereof, the lock-bar pivoted to the middle of the main frame, the hinged wings havi ng keepers, the oblique cutters secured to the forward edges of the wings, and the protecting-plates secured to the edges of the main frame at the inner edges of the cutters, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS C. \VILLIAMS.

Witnesses;

WILL R. lIEAoomc, J. E. STEVENS. 

